Sound-intensifying device for telephones.



H. J. KASTNER.

SOUND INTENSIFYING DEVECE FOR TELEPHONES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.7.1Q1G.

Patenteii May 8, 191?.

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' "vv/ ALF/j WA A TZOR w y Ask t @FEE'UZGEO HENRY J. KASTNER, OF DAYTON, GHIG.

SOUIhl'D-INTENSIFYING DEVICE FOR TELEPHONES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 8, 191% Application filed February 7, 1916. Serial No. 76,57 5.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY J. KAs'rNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in SOLUlLl-IIlll6D- sifying Devices for Telephones, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

lhis invention relates to sound intensify- -'1ng devices for telephones and more parviolate the rules of the telephone companies, which prohibit the attaching of any device to the telephone instrument. To this end it is a further object to support the receiver independently of, but in operative relation to, the intensifier; to provide a supporting device in which the receiver will be retained without the use of fastening devices; to provide means for maintaining an operative connection between the receiver and the intensifier; to provide such a sup porting device which will permit the intensifier to be adjusted to different positions, as required by different users, without altering the relative positions of the intensifier and the receiver; and, further, to provide means for controlling the position of the re ceiver hook of the telephone instrument when the receiver is connected with the intensifying device.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device showing the receiver in position thereon; Fig. 2 is a sectional detail view showing the manner of mounting the intensifier and the receiver; and Figs. and 4 are detail views showing modified forms of resilient clips for retaining the receiver in operative position.

In these drawings 1 have illustrated one embodiment of my invention and have shown a single device for supporting both the intensifier and the r ceiver. This supporting device may be oi any suitable character, but inasmuch as the particular device here shown is 1ntcnded for use with a desk telephone, and, further, as the rules of the telephone companies forbid the attaching of any device to the telephone instruments, I have shown the supporting device as comprising a standard 1 having a base 2 quite similar to the ordinary desk telephone base.

In addition to avoiding conflict with the rules of the telephone companies, a supporting device of this character has the further advantage of enabling the intensifier to be moved into different positions to accommodate it to the requirements of different users without altering the relative positions of the intensifier and the receiver, as will hereinafter more fully appear. To permit of a further adjustment bf the intensifier to accommodate it to different users, I have shown the su port as provided with an adjustable brac et 3 on which is mounted the intensifier and which is provided with means of supporting the telephone receiver in operative relation to the intensifier. As here shown the supportingbracket 3 comprises an elongated body portion pivotally mounted upon the standard 1 and held in adjusted position by means of a thumb screw 4. The bracket is provided with two seats spaced apart and adapted to receive and support the telephone receiver. The rear seat, 5, is shaped' to engage the smaller rear portion of the receiver, while the forward seat, 6, is shaped to receive the larger forward end, or head, of the receiver and is provided with a shoulder 7 to limit the forward movement of the receiver. These seats are open and the receiver may be placed thereon and removed therefrom without the use of attaching devices of any kind and will be retained in a substantially horizontal position by its own weight.

The intensifier is also preferably mounted on the supporting bracket 3. The intensifier is here shown as comprising an amplitying horn 8 having a bell-shaped forward end and a reduced tapered rear portion adapted to fit against the end of the re ceiver with its opening in alinement with. the opening, 9, in the receiver which communicates with the diaphragm chamber. Preferably a gasket 10, of rubber or other suitable material, is secured to the end of the amplifying horn to provide a tight nonvibratory connection between the horn and the receiver. The amplifying horn is mounted in a normally fixed position with relation to the forward seat (3 for the receiver, but is preferably adjustable to enable it to be properly positioned with relation to different receivers should there be any variation in the construction of the receivers. In the present instance, I have shown theainplifying horn as carried by a rod 11 having an upright portion to which the horn is secured and having a portion extending lengthwise oi the horn and slidably mounted in a recess 1.2 formed in the end of the body portion of the bracket 33" A set-screw 13 .serves to retain the arm 11 in adjusted positions in the recess.

In order to retain the receiver in operative relation to the intensifier, or horn, 8, without the use of fastening devices, the application of which to the receiver is forbiddcn by the'rules of the telephone companies, l have provided the support with one or more retaining devices, which are preferably in the form of resilient clips. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 this resilient clip is in the form of an elongated spring l i having a rounded end portion bearing against the shoulder at the rear of the head of the receiver and extending rearvvardly over a supporting stud 15 and thence downwardly to the bracket to which it is rigidly secured, as shown at 16. in Fig. t a short spring clip 17 is secured to the bracket close to the seat 6 and acts upon the receiver in the same manner as does the spring 14. If desired, a plurality of clips may be secured to the seat 6 as, for example, a clip may be secured to each arm of the seat near the upper ends thereof, as shown at 18 in Fig. 3.

Not only does the arrangement of the support enable the receiver to be connected with the intensifying device without the violation oi telephone rules, but it also enables the connection to be very quickly and easily made, thus enabling the receiver to be returned to its hook after each conversation, ii": this is desired. However, under many circumstances, as where a merchant is call ing and taking orders from a list of customers, the receiver will be allowed to remain upon the support in the intervals between telephone connections, and it is therefore desirable that some means he provided to control the position of the receiver hook of the telephone instrument when the receiver is connected with the intensifier. For this purpose I prefer to provide a, dummy receiver, as shown at 19 in Fig. which is placed on. or removed from the receiver hook to control its position in the same manner as the receiver is placed on or removed from the hook under ordinary circumstanccs. The use of a dummy receiver of this kind has various advantag s, for example, it again avoids any conflict with the rules of messes the telephone companies; it enables central to be called in the manner to which the user ot the telephone is accustomed, and consequently, it more likely to be replaced and the connection severed at the end of a convorsation than would be the case 'Wltllil controlling device of another kind. Further,

it the dummy receiver is not replaced upon the hook at the end of a conversation its size is such that its presenceion the desk W111 be quickly noted and it will be returned to the hook.

The operation of the device will lee/readily understood from the foregoing description and it will be apparent that I have provided a very simple, inexpensive sound intensifying device Which can be used in connection with the telephone without the violation of any rules ot the telephone companies, and which will not only relieve the user 01, the telephone of the tiresome necessity of supporting the receiver at his err during long conversations, but will also allow him the use of both hands, which under many circumstanccs is highly desirable. It will also. be apparent that the device is of a very strong, durable character and has no parts which an be readily broken or disarranged.

i wish it to be understood that l do not desire to be limited to the details of construction as shown and described as various modifications will occur t6 2. person skilled in the art.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:-

1. In a device of the character described, a support comprising a pivoted bracket having seats spaced apart to receive and support a telephone receiver, a sound intensifier mounted on said pivoted bracket in anormally fixed position adjacent to one of said seats. and yieldable device mounted on said bracket to hold said receiver against lengthwise movement away from said sound intensiiier and arranged to permit said receiver to be moved transversely away from said bracket.

2. In a device of the character described, a support having a seat for a telephone receiver, said seat having means to hold said receiver against lengthwise movement in one direction, means to hold said receiver against lengthwise movement in the other direction, and a sound intensifier mounted on said support in a normally fixed position relative to said seat.

l. in a device of the character described, a-support having a seat for a telephone receiver. said seat having a part to limit the lengthwise movement of said receiver in one 'ircctiou. a resilient clip mounted on. said support to engage said receiver and hold the same. normally against movement away from said part on said seat, and a sound intensiier mounted on said support in a normally fixed position relatively to said seat. a. In a device of the character described, a support having a seat for the head of a receiver and having a part to engage said receiver at a point removed from said head, a sound intensifier mounted on said support With one end adjacent to said seat, and a yieldable device carried by said seat to hold said receiver against longitudinal. movement away from said sound intensifier, said yieldable device being arranged to permit said receiver to be moved transversely into and. out of engagement with said support.

5. In a device of the character described, a supporthaving a curved seat to receive the lower portion of the head of a receiver and having a part to engage said receiver at a point 'emovcd, from said head, a sound intensifier mounted on said support with one end adjacent to said seat, and a resilient clip carried by said support and arranged to engage the lower portion of the head of said receiver when the latter is on said seat to hold the receiver against longitudinal movement away from said sound intensifier, the arrangement of said seat and said clip being such as to permit said receiver to be moved transversely into and out of engagement with the end of said sound intensifier.

6., In a device of the character described, a support comprising a pivoted bracket having seats spaced apart to support a telephone receiver, one of said seats having a shoulder to limit the lengthwise movement of said receiver on said seat, a resilient clip mounted on said bracket to hold said receiver against movement away from said shoulder, and a sound intensifier-'mounted on said pivoted 40 gated bracket pivotally mounted on said standard and having seats near the opposite ends thereof to receive respective portions of a telephone receiver, one of said seats having a shoulder to engage the head of said receiver, a resilient clip mounted on said bracket between said seats to engage the head of said receiver and hold the same against lengthwise movement on said seats, a sound amplifying horn having one end adapted to engage said receiver about the opening therein, and a supporting arm secured to said horn and adjustably mounted on said bracket. a

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature hereto. l

HENRY a. nasrnnn. 

